"He was a very splendid lover, no doubt," she
said; "but I don't think he is a too fond husband to go away from you
so soon."
"He had to go--he was obliged to go, to see about the land over
there!" pleaded Tess.
"He might have tided 'ee over the winter."
"Ah--that's owing to an accident--a misunderstanding; and we won't
argue it," Tess answered, with tearfulness in her words. "Perhaps
there's a good deal to be said for him! He did not go away, like
some husbands, without telling me; and I can always find out where
he is."
After this they continued for some long time in a reverie, as they
went on seizing the ears of corn, drawing out the straw, gathering
it under their arms, and cutting off the ears with their bill-hooks,
nothing sounding in the barn but the swish of the straw and the
crunch of the hook. Then Tess suddenly flagged, and sank down upon
the heap of wheat-ears at her feet.
"I knew you wouldn't be able to stand it!" cried Marian. "It wants
harder flesh than yours for this work."
Just then the farmer entered. "Oh, that's how you get on when I am
away," he said to her.
"But it is my own loss," she pleaded. "Not yours."
"I want it finished," he said doggedly, as he crossed the barn and
went out at the other door.
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